Virat Kohli missed out a deserved century, while Ajinkya Rahane ended his poor run with a solid half-century to lead India's fightback on Day 1 of the third Test in Nottingham, on Saturday.

India, who were struggling on 82 for three at one stage, finished the day on 307 for six in 86 overs at stumps on the opening day.

Kohli top-scored with a fluent 97, while Rahane stroked a solid 81 with the duo putting on 159 runs for the fourth wicket to rally the visitors.

Hardik Pandya fell off the last delivery of the day, caught at second slip off James Anderson, who registered his 100th Test wicket against India.

Earlier, Ben Stokes made his return for England just four days after being cleared of affray but it was the less heralded all-rounder Chris Woakes who made the early inroads into India's batting in the first Test to be started on a Saturday in England since 1955.

Centurion and man of the match in England's second Test win at Lord's, Woakes took three wickets after the home side had won the toss and decided to attack the visitors' brittle top order once again in conditions where the ball jagged around.

Shikhar Dhawan, restored to the side in place of Murali Vijay, and KL Rahul had started well enough with India's highest partnership of the entire series -- 60 -- until the Kohli-Rahane link-up as England's pacemen failed to make a breakthrough.

Woakes looked the potential game-changer again, having Dhawan caught at slip for 35, trapping Rahul lbw for 23 and tempting Cheteshwar Pujara (14) into a hook on the stroke of lunch which went straight into the hands of Adil Rashid on the boundary.